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The history of this prestigious Swiss
manufacturer can be traced back to Jean-Francois Bautte, the famous Geneva
watchmaker. Though orphaned at a very young age, the young man confronted life
with determination. In 1791, by the time he was nineteen, Jean-Francois Bautte
had learnt several trades, acquired the education which his modest background
had denied him, and begun making his first watches. It would not be long before
his name became familiar to the royal courts of Europe. A master watchmaker of
rare talent, Jean-Francois Bautte was also an astute "industrialist" and
businessman with a brilliant, imaginative and generous character. He is credited
with creating the first genuine ultra-thin watches and the truly visionary
concept of the Manufactory as a producer of high-quality timepieces.
Unfortunately, Jean-Francois Bautte did not have a successor or heir to
take over his company when he retired. The problem of what to do with the
company was quickly solved when a merger was arranged with another watch
manufacturer. In 1854, Constantin Girard married Marie Perregaux. As both came
from watchmaking backgrounds, it seemed perfectly natural to use both names when
they formed their own company. So it was that the Girard-Perregaux brand was
born, in 1856.
More than just a famous watchmaker, Constantin Girard was
also a patriot committed to the republican cause and always ready to devote time
and energy to his beloved town of La Chaux-de-Fonds. Only a few years were
needed to establish a reputation that spread as far as the New World. His
technical and aesthetic masterpiece, the "Tourbillon Sous Trois Points d'Or"
(translation: Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges), was unquestionably the
greatest achievement of a life largely devoted to the research and development
of the art of watchmaking. This amazing pocket watch won Girard-Perregaux two
gold medals at the Paris Universal Exhibitions in 1867 and 1889, and is
considered one of the most desirable mechanical watches ever made.
The
tradition of innovation initiated by Jean Francois Bautte has been perpetuated
to the present day by Girard-Perregaux. Throughout its long history, the
Manufactory has made a number of exciting and innovative contributions to the
world of watchmaking. Foremost among these is the concept of the wristwatch.
Although a few pocket watches had already been modified to be worn on the wrist,
Girard-Perregaux was the first watchmaker to produce this kind of timepiece in a
series, around 1880.
In addition, Girard-Perregaux has developed several
revolutionary movements, the most notable of which have been the Gyromatic, the
high-frequency mechanical movement that has become collectible in their own
right, as well as the quartz movement, whose frequency of 32,768 Hertz has
become the universally accepted standard. In fact, it was Girard-Perregaux's
innovations in the realm of quartz timekeeping that allowed it to survive the
Swiss watch industry's economic crisis during the 1970's and 1980's.
Although Girard-Perregaux did not thrive during the 1970's and early
1980's, unlike other Swiss watch companies, Girard-Perregaux not only survived
fully intact, but emerged even stronger than before and fiercely determined to
continue producing high-quality mechanical timepieces using in-house movements.
At a time when many prestigious Swiss companies were looking to outside
suppliers for their raw movements, Girard-Perregaux simply would not compromise
quality to improve the bottom line.
The company's massive efforts to
upgrade their factory, while training a new generation of master watchmakers to
produce the highest quality wristwatches, was clearly a gamble but one which
paid off handsomely when consumers re-discovered the pleasures of wearing
traditionally hand-finished mechanical timepieces.
Girard-Perregaux's
master watchmakers continued their efforts in the early 1980's. After
extensively studying an original model acquired at auction, the watchmakers
revived the expertise, which had originally created the Tourbillon with Three
Gold Bridges pocket watch. To make a replica of this marvel, however, they had
to think in modern terms and re-design all the components. Although computers
would prove helpful in the design phase, the watchmakers nonetheless had to
re-learn all the traditional crafts and skills that had died along with the
masters.
In 1991, on the occasion of its 200th anniversary, the company
achieved the amazing feat of adapting the technology of the Tourbillon with
Three Gold Bridges to a wristwatch version. Several variations have been
produced since then. These watches, which are completely handmade in
Girard-Perregaux's workshops, are amazing works of mechanical art, and the Three
Bridges, which are cast in solid gold, are stunningly beautiful to behold. Some
six to eight months of continuous work are needed to produce such a watch, with
the House's most talented senior watchmakers meticulously crafting each
component by hand, assembling the movement, testing the complicated mechanism
and finally casing up the completed movement in a massive gold or platinum case.
As of this writing, only 20 such Tourbillon wristwatches have been produced to
date.
Needless to say, watch lovers around the world quickly took notice
of the company's amazing comeback, and the company capitalized even further on
its newfound success by obsessively dedicating itself to the production of
wristwatches of the highest quality at extremely competitive prices. Moreover,
in 1993, Girard-Perregaux signed a co-branding arrangement with the celebrated
Italian car manufacturer, Ferrari, which has yielded a remarkable line of sporty
chronographs.
Along with the Ferrari chronographs, the company's other
popular models include the Vintage Men's automatic, which features an in-house
Girard-Perregaux 3000 self-winding calibre; the Chronograph 9000, featuring a
refined self-winding movement which can be viewed through a sapphire-crystal
back; and the Olympic Chrono 1992, which boasts an in-house Girard-Perregaux
chronograph movement.
In summary, Girard-Perregaux offers one of the
highest quality wristwatches available in the contemporary watch marketplace.
Best of all, these watches can be obtained at very favorable prices for
collectors.
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